A special investigation team appointed by India's top court has stated that the acquisition of animals at Vantara—a private zoo owned by the son of Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani—was compliant with all relevant laws.
The investigation team, formed last month, was set up to examine allegations that animals at Vantara were acquired unlawfully and mistreated. On Monday, they reported finding 'no foul play' in the zoo's management.
The Supreme Court had already indicated that the allegations seemed unsupported but had mandated an inquiry following claims that local authorities had not adequately investigated the matter.
Despite these findings, Reliance Foundation, which operates Vantara, has remained silent on the latest rulings.
Vantara is notable for housing 2,000 species, including elephants and tigers, across its sprawling 3,500-acre property located in Jamnagar, Gujarat. Close to Mukesh Ambani's oil refinery, the zoo was ceremoniously inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March and has also served as a site for Anant Ambani's extravagant pre-wedding celebrations.
However, the zoo has faced backlash from wildlife activists, especially concerning its climate's unsuitability for some of the housed species. Recent unrest escalated when an ailing temple elephant from Kolhapur was relocated to Vantara, drawing protests from various quarters.
On Tuesday, a court denied an appeal against this transfer, reinforcing that independent inquiries had exonerated the involved authorities from accusations of neglect.
